Media trials do influence judges!
Incredibly, that's what Justices B. D. Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva of the Delhi High Court admitted, albeit as an observation, when hearing a petition challenging the ban on controversial documentary India's Daughter. According to reports, the judges, who said they were prima facie opposed to a ban, nevertheless felt that airing the video could wait till the appeal by convict Mukesh Singh was heard. Would this result in a 'gag' on all cases pending judgement? Yes, the judges agreed, saying that earlier, the media had a self-imposed code of not reporting sub-judice matters, but now 'media has thrown it (the code) to the winds'!